Come visit one of the oldest mines around and
collect beautiful minerals, Such As: Sowbelly Agate, found
only here in Creede mining district! Amethyst (some over 300 pounds!
and all pieces take well to polish), we also have rare turquoise only
found at the Last Chance. Other minerals that have been found
include but are not limited to Galena, Zinc, Shalpalerite, Pink
Rhodonite, Native Silver, Chalcopyrite, Copper, Red Jasper, Pyrite,
Black Manganese coated Amethyst crystals, Amethyst crystal plates,and
Drusy Amethyst, Cessurite, Galena Ferrous Silver, and Sowbelly Agate (see image).
What you find is yours to keep, for only $2.00 per pound.

Morris guarantees that collectors will find all the Amethyst
Vein material they want. Most collect-and carefully select-between 10
and 40 pounds. Some take small bits for tumbling, while others select
cabinet-sized specimens for display or even larger pieces for lapidary
purposes. The largest single piece of Amethyst Vein material collected
was a 300-pound boulder destined to become a yard display.

Sowbelly agate makes a superb cutting material, and serious lapidaries
sometimes collect more than 100 pounds of it at a time. Collectors may
also find fragmented plates of crystalline amethyst that formed as vug
linings. Amethyst crystals as large as 1 inch have a clean purple hue
and are sometimes gem quality. For those who do not wish to collect,
the Last Chance sells a large selection of sowbelly agate, plate
amethyst, and other rocks and minerals. Dump minerals include specimens
of argentiferous galena and argentite that sometimes assay as high as
30 troy ounces of silver per ton.

Turquoise is another mineral
occasionally found on the dumps. The Last Chance, along with mines at
Leadville, Cripple Creek, Manassas, and Bonanza, is one of five
Colorado turquoise sources. Although turquoise is not abundant, miners
have collected it at the Last Chance since the 1890s. The Last Chance in Creede has turquoise that occurs in a
broad range of colors from yellow-green "lemon" turquoise to pale and
deep greens and blues. Last Chance turquoise is sometimes flecked with
iron-based brown inclusions and manganese-based black inclusions.

Available for large groups and clubs by appointment.

Open Memorial day weekend through the end of September. Call to verify open dates after September 30th